Juggler's Club

Juggler's Club is a highly pre-emptive (>75% opening frequency) strong club system for bridge bidding, using '5 card majors' and 5 'weak 2s' of various types. It is distinguished from most other strong club systems by virtue of the mini NT (allowing all 10+ HCP hands to be opened), the weak artificial 2C opening (promising both majors), the 'dustbin' (10-15 HCP) 1D opening, and the fact that 1 major openings guarantee 5 to 7 losers, but May Be up to 20 HCP.

The system began to evolve from Acol with weak (12-14) 1NT in 2000, when the 'Benji' 2 level structure was added, along with '5 card majors'. By 2002 it had acquired a 'multi-coloured 2D', a strong 1 club opening, and artificial 2C and 2D rebids (after opening 1C) to enable a wide variety of strong hand types to be described accurately. The 2 level opening structure has since Undergone many refinements before crystallising into its present form.

It was developed originally by Ben Beever in partnership with Graham Currie (both jugglers - hence the name), with later suggestions from Eddie Thornton-Chan. Since 2007, the system has become more widespread through the bridge website BBO (Bridge Base Online), but is likely to remain a work-in-ProgresS.

The opening bids in 1st and 2nd seat (at UK level 3) are:

Pass = 0-9 HCP

1C = 16+ HCP approx (no 5+ major unless 4- losers or 20+ HCP)

1D = 10-15 HCP, balanced, clubs or diamonds (inc 4441)

1H/S = 10-20 HCP, 5+ cards in the suit, 5-7 losers

1NT = 9-12 HCP, 5 card major / 7 card minor ok

2C = 5-10 HCP, 4+ spades and 4+ hearts

2D = 5-10 HCP 6 card major OR (for legality) 7+ minor, 4 losers exactly

2H/S = 5-10 HCP, 5 card suit exactly (must be 8-10 / 4+ minor at vul)

2NT = 7-10 HCP, 5-4 or better in minors

3C/D = 7-10 HCP, 6-8 card suit

3H/S = 5-10 HCP, 7 card suit

3NT = 10-15 HCP, longish minor, maybe stoppers outside the long suit

4C = Beeverized Kabel (asking aces: 4D=no, 4H=c/d, 4S=h/s, 4N/5C/D=2:RCO style)

4D/H/S = NATURAL, pre-emptive.

4NT = 6-5 or better in the minors, 5-10 HCP

Notes:

10-12 HCP hands with 5332/5422 & 5 card major are opened 1NT (excepting 5 spades 4 hearts).

13-14 HCP hands with 5332/5422 & 5 card major are opened 1D (excepting 5 spades 4 hearts, or 5 hearts 4 diamonds).

All other 10-20 HCP hands with a 5+ card major are opened 1H/S or 1C.

In 3rd seat, 1NT = 9-15, and 2 level bids become 0-14 where legal. In 4th seat, 'rule of 15' applies.